By Leslie Benson, Marketing Communications Group, and Kara Boyles, Utility Infrastructure Group > Last year, the State of Indiana approved the City of Lake Station for an $11 million Indiana Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) low-interest loan to improve its aging water distribution system, including the addition of a new 2.0 million gallon per day (MGD) drinking water treatment plant. The free, public groundbreaking for the first phase of the project took place on March 25.

By conducting test drilling and performing hydraulic modeling in order to prioritize the City’s next 20 years of capital improvements, the City and American Structurepoint were able to prioritize projects critical to the long-term operation of the Lake Station Water Department.

The project is expected to be constructed as two separate phases. Phase I improvements will include new water supply wells, a new groundwater treatment plant, and water main improvements. Phase II will include storage tank improvements and additional water main improvements. The drinking water treatment plant is expected to be in full operation in 2014.

Thanks to the following for making this possible: Mayor Keith Soderquist of the City of Lake Station; the Lake Station City Council, including Garry Szostek (cuncilman-at-large), Todd Lara (councilman-at-large), John McDaniel (first district councilman), Don Huddleston (second district councilman), Todd Rogers (third district councilman), Harry Pedroza (fourth district councilman), and Rick Long (fifth district councilman); Brenda Samuels, Clerk Treasurer; Roger Szostek  and Joe Stevens of the Lake Station Board of Works; James Meyer, the City of Lake Station’s Attorney at Law; American Structurepoint; and Thieneman Construction.